Combined pool, slideway, and patio construction



A. E. LAVELL Aug. 30, 1966 COMBINED POOL, SLIDEWAY, AND PATIO CONSTRUCTION Filed March 27, 1964 INVENTOR. AL/CE f. LAVELL United States Patent 3,269,726 COMBINED F001,, SLIDEWAY, AND PATIO CONSTRUQTION Alice E. Lavell, 17744 Gemini St, La Puente, Calif. Filed Mar. 27, 1964 Ser. No. 355,205 2 claims. (Cl. 272-565) The present invention relates generally to a novel and distinctive construction and arrangement for a slideway and related features; more particularly, the invention relates to such construction and installation in combination with an adjacent elevated earth formation having a slope along which the slideway extends, a patio area atop the earth formation to which the upper end portion of the slideway is secured, and a paved pathway extending from the patio area downwardly to provide access.

Conventional slideway installations and their combinations with related structure and features, have been characterized by a number of disadvantages and shortcomings. Such slideways are ordinarily supported by structural framework, stands or legs and are provided with ladders extending to their tops or upper platforms, as well as hand rails extending along such ladders. Such construction is expensive and involves maintenance problems. The supporting structures and the accessed ladders are relatively unsightly in appearance. Particularly in slideway installations for use with swimming pools, such supporting structures and ladders detract markedly from the otherwise pleasing appearance of the pool site. In pool site installations and in other installations where pleasing or integrated surrounding features or landscaping are involved, the supporting structures and ladders of conventional slideways are rather unsightly and detract from otherwise aesthetic environments. Such ladders involve the hazards of personal injury, because of their steepness, their ordinarily slipper steps, rungs and hand rails, and because the structures include a number of hard metal parts against which persons bodies, heads and limbs can strike.

The present invention provides a new and improved construction and installation of a slideway in combined relation with other structures and features which eliminates or alleviates a number of shortcomings of prior art slideway installations. An elevated earth formation or embankment having a flat top surface and a relatively steeply sloping surface is utilized. A slideway extends from the top of the earth formation downwardly along the slope thereof, and is secured to a patio platform atop the earth formation. A paved pathway extends from the foot of the earth formation to the patio platform to provide access. In a preferred embodiment, the slideway and combined construction are associated with a pool having edge coping adjacent to the earth embankment. A curved slideway extends from the patio platform downwardly to the edge of the pool and has its lower end portion supported to extend over the pool coping. The upper end portion of the slideway is secured to a concrete block on the patio platform by being imbedded therein. Steps are defined in the concrete block in its side opposite from the side facing the pool. Hand rails extend from the side portions of the slideway and are imbedded in the concrete blocks. Conventional ladders and slideway supporting structure are eliminated, with attendant improvement in appearance. The construction is aesthetically integrated with the landscaping and correlated features of the environment. Elimination of the ladder and other supporting metal structure substantially reduces the hazards of personal injuries, in addition to reducing the costs of construction. The relationship between the patio platform and the pool provides an advantageous observation area for observation of pool activities and provides advantageous recreational facilities for relaxation, dining and drinking, thereby contributing to the entertainment appeal 3,269,726 Patented August 30, 1966 and recreational advantages of the pool and the related construction and environment.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved slideway construction in combination with related features including an elevated earth formation having a slope along which the slideway extends.

An object of the invention is the provision of a slideway and related construction according to the foregoing object which provides improved appearance and aesthetic inte ration with adjacent landscaping and environment.

An object of the invention is to provide a slideway and related construction in accordance with the foregoing objects which is relatively inexpensive to fabricate and install.

It is an object of the invention to provide a slideway and related poolside construction integrated to provide a pool slideway in combination with an elevated patio and a pathway providing access to the patio and to the upper end of the slideway.

An object of the invention is the provision of a slideway and related construction wherein unsightly ladders and supporting structuures are eliminated.

It is an object of this invention to provide a slideway and related construction according to certain of the foregoing objects which reduces hazards or personal injuries by elimination of relatively hazardous structure.

An object of the invention is the provision of a slideway and related construction according to certain of the foregoing objects wherein an integrated slideway and patio construction enhance the enjoyment of the environment and poolside area.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those versed in the art from a consideration of the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred form of construction and installation according to the present invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational sectional view showing the slideway construction of FIGURE 1 and the supporting earth embankment.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in relation to a pool 10 having an edge coping 12 of conventional construction. Adjacent to the pool is an elevated earth formation or embankment 14, which may either be a portion of the natural terrain or a constructed earth formation.

The upper portion of the earth formation 14 is substantially level. A concrete platform 16 is provided atop the embankment and constitutes an elevated patio for recreational activities and observation of the pool area, environment and landscaping. The platform 16 is preferably of artistic, ornamental design. For example, an inwardly curved side or edge portion 18 may be provided.

A relatively steeply sloping portion or surface 20 of the earth formation or embankment 14 extends from the patio platform 16 downwardly to the edge of the pool, as shown.

A slideway 22 of trough-like configuration has side walls or guides 24, 26, and has its end portion 28 extending over the pool coping and supported by upright standards 30. The slideway is preferably relatively wide. For example, it may preferably be three feet in width, whereas conventional slideways are approximately two feet in width.

A concrete block 32 is provided on the patio plat-form 16. Steps 34 are defined on the side of the block facing the patio area and opposite from the side facing the pool.

A compound curved portion 38 of the slideway 22 is adjacent to the end portion which is imbedded directly in the concrete block 32 to provide support. Although generally not necessary, upright supporting standards 40 may be provided. Hand rails 42, 44 of metal or other appropriate material are appropriately secured to the side of slideway 22 and have their opposite end portions imbedded in the concrete block 32.

A paved pathway 46 extends from the pool coping upwardly along the embankment 14 to provide means for access or escending from the pool level to the patio 16.

The construction and installation hcreinbefore described provides distinct and unique advantages. Either natural terrain providing an elevated area adjacent to a pool may be utilized, or an appropriate elevated earth formation may be provided utilizing such an embankment or formation, the slideway may be installed at substantially lower cost than conventional slideways. The relatively unsightly supporting structure and ladders associated with conventional slideways are eliminated, thereby improving the appearance of the slideway, the environment, and landscaping. Substantially reduced hazards of personal injuries result in elimination of slideway ladders, and supporting structures. The installation is very sturdy and relatively indestructible in comparison with conventional slideway structures.

The invention provides slideway and related construction which is adapted for integration with landscaping, poolside environments, and other decorative environments. The integrated patio area provides an advantageous observation area for recreation, dining and other activities, and the area contributes to the entertainment appeal and recreational utility of pool areas and the like outdoor entertainment areas. The paved pathway provides a relatively ornamental and relatively safer means of access from the foot of the earth formation or the pool edge to the patio area.

From the foregoing description, those versed in the art will appreciate that the present invention achieves the objects and realizes the advantages hereinbefore mentioned, and that the invention provides additional advantages which are apparent from the description and from the drawing.

Although a specific embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described herein, it will be understood that the same is merely exemplary of presently preferred embodiments capable of attaining the objects and advantages hereinbefore mentioned, and that the invention is not limited thereto; variations will be readily apparent to those versed in the art, and the invention is entitled to the broadest interpretation within the terms of the appended claims.

The inventor claims:

1. A pool slideway construction associated with a pool having an edge coping, the pool having a side portion adjacent to an elevated earth formation, said earth formation having a flattened top portion and having a relatively steep slope adjacent to said pool side portion, a concrete platform providing a patio area atop said elevated earth formation, a pool slideway of curved conformation extending downwardly from said patio along said slope and having a lower end portion adjacent to and over the edge of the pool, means supporting said lower end portion of the slideway, a concrete block formed on said patio and having the upper end portion of said slideway secured thereto, said concrete block having steps defined therein on one side thereof to provide access to the upper end portion of the slideway, and a paved pathway along a slope of said earth formation to provide access from the edge of the pool to said patio area.

2. A slideway and patio construction associated with a poo-l having edge coping, said construction comprising an earth embankment adjacent to said coping at an edge of the pool, said embankment having a surface disposed at a relatively steep angle and having a relatively flat top surface, a concrete patio platform on said embankment top surface, a concrete block on the patio platform, said concrete block having steps formed in a side thereof opposite from the side facing the pool, a curved slideway extending from said patio platform downwardly to said edge of the pool, means supporting the lower end portion of the slideway to extend over said pool coping, the upper end portion of the slideway being secured to the concrete block by being imbedded therein, hand rails extending from respective side portions of the slideway and having their end portions imbedded in the concrete block, and a paved pathway extending from a position adjacent to said pool coping to said patio platform.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,648,196 11/1927 Rohmer 272-565 2,270,909 1/ 1942 Spizer 272-56.5

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

F. B. LEONARD, F. B. SHAY, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A POOL SLIDEWAY CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATED WITH A POOL HAVING A EDGE COPING, THE POOL HAVING A SIDE PORTION ADJACENT TO AN ELEVATED EARTH FORMATION, SAID EARTH FORMATION HAVING A FLATTENED TOP PORTION AND HAVING A RELAATIVELY STEEP SLOPE ADJACENT TO SAID POOL SIDE PORTION, A CONCRETE PLATFORM PROVIDING A PATIO AREA ATOP SAID ELEVATED EARTH FORMATION, A POOL SLIDEWAY OF CURVED CONFORMATION EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID PATIO ALONG SAID SLOPE AND HAVING A LOWER END PORTION ADJACENT TO AND OVER THE EDGE OF THE POOL, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID LOWER END PORTION OF THE SLIDEWAY, A CONCRETE BLOCK FORMED ON SAID PATIO AND HAVING THE UPPER END PORTION OF SAID SLIDEWAY SECURED THERETO, SAID CONCRETE BLOCK HAVING STEPS DEFINED THEREIN ON ONE SIDE THEREOF TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE UPPER END PORTION OF THE SLIDEWAY, AND A 